Brookline Students And Allies 'Walk Out' Despite Snow

BROOKLINE, MA — The snow day didn't stop dozens of students across the town from walking out in an effort to show where they stood on gun violence, and to stand in solidarity with the students and families at the Parkland Florida school where 17 people were shot dead one month ago.

More than 100 Pierce School students were joined by adult allies for the National School Walkout this morning, according to the parent of eighth grade student organizer Nina Bakum.

Students showed up holding signs, some with their parents others with friends outside the Pierce School near the corner of Harvard and Cypress. Students also marched at the Runkle School.

High school students planned their walkout for today, but because of the snow day will hold it Thursday, organizers told Patch. Still, some were planning to head to the State House for a March For Our Lives rally this afternoon.

Brookline's Tommy Vitolo who is running to fill the seat State Rep. Frank Smizik is set to leave next year said was all for the protests.

"The two biggest threats to the lives of our youth are motor vehicles and firearms. Aggressive public policy has dramatically reduced the number of kids we lose to car crashes each year. We owe our community’s children the same level of effort and commitment in protecting them from gun violence, including laws to allow for extreme risk protective orders and to require universal background checks for private gun sales," he said.

Brookline's Rebecca Stone, who is also running for that seat tackled the issue of gun violence in her latest newsletter and said she was happy to hear that some Brookline students made it to the rally.

"This is an absolute essential moment, though I'm not optimistic that Congress will do anything at all - especially with the president we have," she said. "We don't have to wait for Congress on this. State legislatures have enormous power to regulate guns for violence prevention and safety and Massachusetts should be leading."

There are several bills in front of Beacon Hill lawmakers currently, including ERPO Extreme Risk Protective Order bill, something on a waiting period and strengthening mental health services.

Have a photo of today's Walkout? Send it to jenna.Fisher@Patch.com and tell us about your experience.

Read about how the rally in Boston went: Students Storm State House In Rally For Stricter Gun Laws

Photo courtesy Gioia Perugini Parent of student organizer Nina Bakum.